From The Taipei Times:

People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Zhu Chenghu (Êú±ÊàêËôé) recently showed his true colors when he boasted in a manner typical of a bully and one accustomed to a rigid social hierarchy. Zhu threatened that if the US intervened in a war between China and Taiwan, China would not hesitate to use its nuclear weapons against cities on the American west coast.

There is nothing much new with these kind of threats.

For some, Zhu’s statements can be seen as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) letting the PLA blow off steam and act tough. Others may see it as one of many CCP trial balloons to see how the Western powers react. If their response is tough, the CCP can then deny that Zhu was speaking on their behalf. If however the Western powers show a possible softening of their position on Taiwan’s defense, then Beijing can ratchet up the rhetoric.